We want to be your go-to stop for ALL of your real estate needs. Even if you are looking out of the area, or out of state…we can help. We have relationships with 5 star agents ALL around the world that we can refer you to, and can guarantee the best service possible.
Real estate referrals happen all the time for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, they happen because a real estate agent is either unlicensed or unqualified to service their client in the purchase or sale of property in a particular geographic area, or for a particular type of real estate. Do not go into this important decision blindly.
Important steps when buying out of state or area:
Get a referral:
Don’t choose a buyer’s agent at random. Instead, talk to a real estate agent in your current community—one you trust—LIKE US, and ask them to refer you to a buyer’s agent in the community where you will be relocating, investing, or buying or even selling property. Realtors have access to nationwide databases that list agents in other communities according to their success rates. By getting a referral, you can be sure you’ll work with an experienced buyer’s agent. We have a personal database of agents we have worked with in numerous areas around the country and had success with.
Do your research:
When you’re not familiar with a community, it’s more important than ever to do a little research. Go online and browse such sites as American FactFinder to discover important details about a community’s employment potential, weather, economic stability, local crime rate, and much more vital information. For information about what is happening in your target community, you can contact the Chamber of Commerce and ask if they can send you a free information package. Look up the city’s website in order to find information on specific services, what is in close proximity, facilities and parks for your use, as well as ordinances. Visit the local news to learn about events, and other happenings around the area. This can help you learn about crime in the area as well. You can also look up resident groups on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, or Nextdoor. You can request to join and read about actual residents’ experiences in real time. Google services can be used to find the proximity to schools, parks, grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals and other attractions.
Ask for a “Real-Time” Tour of Each Home:
When you can’t go to every showing in person, ask your real estate agent to provide a virtual tour of every house that meets your needs. A virtual tour is a general walk-through of a property which allows you to see each room, the landscaping, and the home’s exterior as if you were walking through it yourself. Once you have narrowed down your choices, you can ask your agent for a virtual tour of the neighborhood and nearby amenities as well. Get a good amount of pictures and videos from your agent to go back to.
Take a Trip Before you make an Offer:
Before you make an offer on a house, fly out and see it in person if that is possible. Even with a good agent and a virtual tour, you still need to walk across the home’s floors, breathe in its air, and touch its woodwork to capture the vibes of the house. You’re getting ready to invest big money, so if you are able to first take a quick trip to make sure the house is what you expect. If this is not an option, we have had many successes where our clients have purchased condos, homes, apartments in other cities and states without seeing them in person.
Get an Inspection:
An inspection is often part of a sales contract, but if you’re paying cash or if the house is selling “as is,” you’ll need to order one yourself. A good inspector will check everything from the roof and the foundation to the health of the HVAC system, plumbing, and wiring. You’ll pay $300-$500 for a professional inspection, but doing so could save you from buying a house with multiple hidden problems. Do this for your own knowledge when purchasing a home.
Research Properties Restrictions:
Ask your agent to supply you with the phone number of the local building authority and the homeowners association (HOA), if it applies to the property. Contact both agencies and find out about any restrictions that the property may be subject to. For example, the zoning board or the HOA may NOT allow you to put up a fence or install a swimming pool.
Here are some other common guidelines that are generally standard in most communities with an HOA, including but not always:
- Architectural controls
- Lawn and holiday decoration restrictions
- Home maintenance standards
- Noise complaint policies
- Home occupancy limits
- Parking rules and guidelines
- Pet size and quantity limits
- Short-term rental restrictions
- Trash and recycling rules
You’ll want to know any of the restrictions before making an offer on a property.
Work with a National Bank:
The lenders in your current community may not lend money on a home in another state, and it can be difficult to get a loan in the new community unless you are able to visit the lender in person. The solution can be to apply for a loan through a National bank such as Bank of America or Wells Fargo that has branches in both communities. That way, you can work through your local branch and still receive a mortgage for an out-of-state home.
Make Offers Electronically:
In today’s fast-moving world of technology, when you are ready to make an offer on a house you can do so by email or by using a real estate company’s online signing feature. While you will eventually be required to provide signed paper copies via insured overnight mail, an e-offer with a digital signature is good enough to seal the deal until the paper copies arrive. Some states even offer services where they send someone to your current residence to complete the paperwork. One of my recent clients had this service available, where they signed in the comfort of their own home at their convenience, and the out of state agent also sent a notary.
Move into your dream home:
While moving can be stressful, and buying a second home that is thousands of miles away without possible ever seeing it can be even more stressful! Remember the stress will be worth it in the end, and if you hire an agent that your local agent trusts it may not even be that stressful at all.
We have helped numerous clients and worked with them throughout the home buying process in other states. If you have any questions about buying, selling, or investing in a property out of state or relocating, give us a call. We would love to be your compass for this journey.
Amanda McNichol
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson